The aspirants, who have obtained nomination forms and submitted same, include incumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Tinubu ’s preferred candidate and Managing Director, Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Femi Hamzat.
The situation, according to analysts, has put paid to Ambode’s moves to automatically secure the ticket of the APC for the second term through the endorsement of Tinubu.
The council is made up of the governor and leaders of the party across the three senatorial districts of the state, including Lagos APC Chairman, Tunde Balogun; Dr. Olorunfemi Bashorun; Senator Anthony Adefuye; Prof. Tunde Samuel; Chief Adeyemi Ikuforiji; Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi; Cardinal James Odumbaku; Chief Lanre Rasak; and Dr. Yomi Finnih.
With this decision, Ambode is faced with a difficult task ahead because of his unpopularity in the party which favored Sanwo-Olu, courtesy of Tinubu’s support.
Sanwo-Olu had emerged through the Mandate Movement, a group loyal to Tinubu.
One of the GAC members, Adefuye, who confirmed the group’s decision, told Sunday Vanguard: “We (GAC members) met at Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s residence this evening and decided that all governorship aspirants on the platform of APC in the state should go for the primary exercise to pick the ticket for APC flag bearer in the 2019 general elections.
“I think it was only one member of the council that was absent at the meeting.”
The Chairman of the party in the state, Balogun, had, earlier, while reacting to the number of aspirants for the ticket, maintained that it would further strengthen internal democracy in the party.
Earlier, a party leader, who preferred anonymity, had confided in Sunday Vanguard that the outcome of the meeting might not favor Ambode as most members of the GAC were opposed to Ambode’s re-election bid.
“I don’t think there is going to be any shift on the stance to do away with Ambode as he has so many enemies within the council, even if Tinibu’s decides to forgive him (Ambode),” the party leader said.
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